The Air Travel Ticketing Transparency and Protection Act would ensure that there are consistent consumer protections in place for all ticket sellers
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced legislation to improve transparency and customer service standards for air travel. The Air Travel Ticketing Transparency and Protection Act would create minimum customer service standards for the purchase of air fares and related passenger air transportation services. Klobuchar is working to include this legislation in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2018 which is currently pending in the Senate.
“Most people know what it’s like to purchase an airline ticket, only to be hit later with hidden fees. Whether it’s a family looking for affordable flights or a small business-owner looking for the best frequent flier program, consumers deserve to know up front exactly what the costs of their travel will be,” said Klobuchar. “This legislation will ensure transparency across all ticket sellers so consumers have the information they need to make informed choices about their air travel.”
"Independent online sellers have been key to giving consumers the power to shop around when booking airline tickets. Wherever you buy your ticket, you should be able to count on getting the same information about flights, fares, and fees, and the same consumer protections. The independent sellers and the airlines each need to do their part. The independents need to provide reliable information and protections to consumers, and the airlines need to provide reliable information and back-up to the independents. We appreciate Senator Klobuchar’s work to address our concerns and make these dual obligations clear, and we look forward to working with the Senator to advance this pro-consumer legislation,” said George Slover, senior policy counsel at Consumers Union.
The Air Travel Ticketing Transparency and Protection Act is supported by consumer groups including Consumers Union, National Consumer League, Consumer Federation of America, Travelers United, US PIRG, Flyers Rights, and Consumer Action.
Klobuchar has been a leader in helping to strengthen consumer protections and air travel safety. In March 2017, Klobuchar and Senator Jerry Moran sent a letter urging the U.S. Department of Transportation to conduct a rulemaking to establish a consistent set of protections for consumers when booking tickets online. In November 2017, Klobuchar sent a letter to the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission calling for an investigation of anticompetitive conduct among online travel agencies.
In 2016, several of Klobuchar’s aviation priorities passed the Senate as part of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2016, including provisions to improve aviation and passenger safety, implement new technologies like NextGen, as well as streamline and update certification requirements for aviation manufacturers, and increase support for small airport programs. She was also a cosponsor of the Passenger Bill of Rights, which was signed into law as a part of the 2012 FAA Reauthorization Act and requires airlines to provide passengers with food, water, and adequate restrooms during a tarmac delay.
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